Jos Luhukay’s Sheffield Wednesday and Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United meet in a tasty looking EFL Championship fixture on Friday night. With Wednesday in good form, while Leeds look to bounce back from defeat, we should be in for an intriguing Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough as both sides try to bolster their promotion hopes.

Despite being beaten in the league for the first time under Bielsa last time out, United make the short trip to South Yorkshire as the bookies’ favourites. However, Hillsborough is one of the toughest places to visit in the Championship, with Wednesday unbeaten on their own patch in the league so far. Which way will this derby go on Friday night?

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Sheffield Wednesday News: Luhukay’s Owls in Good Form

After a slow start to their Championship campaign, Sheffield Wednesday are starting to click into gear and press up the table. The Owls kicked off their league season with one point from their opening three games, drawing with Hull City and losing against Wigan Athletic and Brentford. However, since falling to a 2-0 loss at Griffin Park last month, Luhukay’s men have gone on to win four of their last six Championship matches, losing just one of those along the way.

Owls to Make Hillsborough a Fortress This Season?

Wednesday have been hard to beat on their own patch this term, winning two and drawing two of their four home league games so far. Luhukay’s men have seen off Millwall and Ipswich both by a 2-1 scoreline, while games against Hull and Stoke City have ended in draws. The Sheffield club were beaten 2-0 at Hillsborough by Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup last month, but they have not lost at home in a league match since Fulham left with a 1-0 win back in April of last season.

No Fresh Injury Concerns for Luhukay

Sheff Wednesday have no fresh injuries to deal with ahead of Friday’s big clash with Leeds. However, long-term absentees Almen Abdi, Gary Hooper and Kieran Lee remain sidelined for the Owls.

Leeds United News: Brilliant Beginning for Bielsa

Leeds stole all the headlines when they managed to persuade Bielsa to join Elland Road in the summer. The Argentinian has gained vast managerial experience since his first job at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina way back in 1990. Since then, Bielsa has managed the likes of Marseille, Lazio and Lille. He also had successful stints as boss of the Argentina and Chile national teams. Bringing the 63-year-old to Leeds was a massive coup by the club and the charismatic South American has hit the ground running.

Whites Top the Table After Nine Games

Leeds have made an exceptional start to life under Bielsa, winning five of nine league matches to sit top of the pile. The Whites have had some tough fixtures thus far but they beaten the likes of Stoke, Derby County, Rotherham United, Norwich City and Preston North End, drawing with Swansea City, Middlesbrough and Millwall. However, United were beaten for the first time this season in the Championship last weekend, as Birmingham City shocked Elland Road by claiming a surprise 2-1 win. Leeds will be hoping to bounce back at the first time of asking on Friday and in truth they have every chance as they were unlucky in that defeat and still played well.

Leeds Looking to Continue Solid Away Form

Leeds picked up an impressive 4-1 win at Derby in their first away game of the season, which they followed up with a solid 2-2 draw with Swansea in South Wales. After smashing Norwich 3-0 at Carrow Road, Leeds preserved their unbeaten away record under Bielsa by scoring late to rescue a point at Millwall. Leeds currently have the best away record in the league, scoring 10, conceding just four and picking up eight points from a possible 12.

A Few Injury Concerns for Bielsa

Leeds will be without Patrick Bamford and Gaetano Berardi for Friday’s trip to Hillsborough. Meanwhile, Kemar Roofe – who has netted an impressive four goals in six Championship appearances this season – remains a doubt with a calf strain. Also, Pablo Hernandez could miss out as he recovers from a hamstring issue and these absences in the forward areas have somewhat limited Leeds goal threat in recent games.

Analysis: League Leaders to Bounce Back with a Win

Leeds will have been desperately disappointed to have lost their unbeaten record in their last outing. Not many people would have predicted a Birmingham win at Elland Road last Saturday. However, good teams bounce back, and United will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways at Hillsborough on Friday. This will not be an easy task in Sheffield, though, as Wednesday are hard to beat on home soil. This could be close, but we fancy the visitors to return to Elland Road with a big three points.

Away Side to Edge an Entertaining Game at Hillsborough

Leeds have swept aside a number of teams this season, but Friday’s match against Sheffield Wednesday is expected to be a tight one. However, we’re backing Bielsa’s boys to hit back with a narrow win, so put a few quid on the away side to run out 2-1 winners at Hillsborough (8/1).

Both Teams to Find the Net in Sheffield

Wednesday have scored in all of their nine Championship matches this season, with seven of their 14 league goals coming on their own patch. We fancy the Owls to score in a close defeat on Friday. Therefore, have a punt on Leeds to win and both teams to score, which you can get at the top price of 7/2.

Welshman to Fire First for Leeds

Young Welshman Tyler Roberts has made a real impact under Bielsa this term. The 19-year-old, who arrived in a £2.5m deal from Walsall in January, has started the last three games. Robert scored a brace in United’s recent 3-0 win over Preston, and the teenager is available at 13/2 to open the scoring on Friday.

Recent Matches

Leeds have won two of their last four league visits to Hillsborough, including a 2-0 victory in Sheffield back in August 2016. Since then, however, Wednesday have won two of the last three, doing the double over United last term. Meanwhile, there has only been one draw between these Yorkshire rivals in the last seven meetings. Back in January 2014, the Owls thumped the Whites 6-0 at Hillsborough in a Championship meeting.

17th March 2018: Leeds United 1 – 2 Sheffield Wednesday

In the last meeting between the pair back in March, Atdhe Nuhiu scored twice in a 2-1 win for Wednesday at Elland Road. After a pretty forgettable 70 minutes, the game sprung to life when Nuhiu gave the Owls the lead. Jay-Roy Grot thought he’d rescued a point for Leeds in the 86th minute, but Nuhiu’s goal in injury time stole the points for the visitors.

1st October 2017: Sheffield Wednesday 3 – 0 Leeds United

The last time these two met at Hillsborough, Wednesday’s secured an emphatic 3-0 victory over Leeds just under a year ago. Gary Hooper was the star man for the home team, netting two goals in the first half to give the Owls a 2-0 lead at the break. Kieran Lee added a third for Wednesday with eight minutes left to play.

25th February 2017: Leeds United 1 – 0 Sheffield Wednesday

After Leeds had won 2-0 at Hillsborough back in August 2016, they picked up a precious 1-0 victory over the Owls at Elland Road in February 2017. With both teams pushing for the play-offs, Chris Wood’s 24th minute goal gave the Whites a 1-0 home win. However, Wednesday went on to finish fourth, with Leeds missing out in seventh after a very poor end to the season.

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